Autobiographies can be a great way for students to learn a lot about a person's life, culture, and contributions to the world. A student can either learn about their own culture, as well as learn something about a culture they are not familiar with. Studying autobiographies can help a students with practicing their literacy skills. Students can read a book, or watch a video about a person or written by a person. It can be used with any age level and it can also be used in any subjects. There have been many interesting people in each subject that can be studied.
Activity 1: Autobiography
This activity can be used in any grade level depending on the autobiography the teacher chooses to use. I have chosen to read Malcolm X's autobiography and to go along with the activity, the students can watch the movie about him. This book should be taught in a high school classroom. It would also be good to use this book to go along with civil rights movement. English Language Learners can benefit from reading this book because it can challenge them to practice their language. Students can perform read alouds during the reading of this book, as well as skits or performances of what just occurred in the book. The teacher can have students do a research project where students can practice their writing and grammar skills. At the end of the autobiography, students can watch the movie, and make comparisons with book and movie by doing a venn diagram or other kind of chart. Many different activities can be created while reading this book, which would help students practice their language skills, as well as learning the content.
Activity 2: Write Your Own Autobiography.
This activity can also be used in any grade level, it just has to be adapted by the teacher to make the instructions appropriate for the grade level they teach in. A teacher can have the students start this activity by coming up with a chart of what are their own characteristics, what they like to do, what they have experienced, and anything else that answers the question who they are. Once the students fill out this information they can come up with writing their own story about their lives. They can be creative with what they write about and with what they include in their story. I would have the students do a picture book, and once they are done they would be asked to read their stories to the rest of the class. The students can discuss their stories, and talk about what is important in each others lives. Students can practice many literacy, writing, and speaking skills throughout this activity.
Activity 1: Autobiography
This activity can be used in any grade level depending on the autobiography the teacher chooses to use. I have chosen to read Malcolm X's autobiography and to go along with the activity, the students can watch the movie about him. This book should be taught in a high school classroom. It would also be good to use this book to go along with civil rights movement. English Language Learners can benefit from reading this book because it can challenge them to practice their language. Students can perform read alouds during the reading of this book, as well as skits or performances of what just occurred in the book. The teacher can have students do a research project where students can practice their writing and grammar skills. At the end of the autobiography, students can watch the movie, and make comparisons with book and movie by doing a venn diagram or other kind of chart. Many different activities can be created while reading this book, which would help students practice their language skills, as well as learning the content.
Activity 2: Write Your Own Autobiography.
This activity can also be used in any grade level, it just has to be adapted by the teacher to make the instructions appropriate for the grade level they teach in. A teacher can have the students start this activity by coming up with a chart of what are their own characteristics, what they like to do, what they have experienced, and anything else that answers the question who they are. Once the students fill out this information they can come up with writing their own story about their lives. They can be creative with what they write about and with what they include in their story. I would have the students do a picture book, and once they are done they would be asked to read their stories to the rest of the class. The students can discuss their stories, and talk about what is important in each others lives. Students can practice many literacy, writing, and speaking skills throughout this activity.